Source: Team_Talk
Hughes demands cup-final mentality
Goals in each half from Carl Finnigan and Tam Scobbie saw off a late charge from the Fir Park men that culminated in David Clarkson's spot-kick with 20 minutes remaining.
With Gerard Aafjes red-carded for hauling down Scotland striker Clarkson, the rock-bottom Bairns had to endure a nervous finale before sealing the win that cut the gap at the foot of the SPL to three points with four league matches remaining.
Hughes, who last week led his side to the Homecoming Scottish Cup final, said: "It's five cup finals left for us. I said before the game that we had six and we need to try and go and win them all.
"I'm pleased for the boys that they got the result. I think you can see it's dogged and it's spirited.
"We made it hard for ourselves because, once we scored the first goal, I felt we were the better side in the first 20 minutes.
"But, once we scored the first goal, it scared us a little bit, although that's understandable.
"Then to get another goal from a set piece, another Tam Scobbie goal, was great. I was delighted with that.
"In terms of team performance, effort and commitment they absolutely showed me everything we'll need between now and the end of the season, especially the backs against the wall when we were down to 10 men.
"There are going to be twists and turns between now and the end of the season. All we can do is keep winning football matches and see what happens.
"That's what I've said to the boys. Anything that is put in front of us, let's make sure we're picking up three points and see what happens."
Falkirk were a team transformed from previous displays in the league as they scored for the first time in four matches and notched their first win in six weeks.
And Hughes is hoping reaching the club's first Scottish Cup final in 12 years and qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history will have an impact in the remaining four league games.
He added: "I hoped we would get a great shot in the arm from winning in the semi-final because everybody is playing for cup final places.
"It's a great motivation tool and I'm just pleased for the boys.
"I'm not looking at anything else. If we win football matches, it will take us where we want to go, I'm 100% sure of that. That's the message and the real blinkered focus in what we're doing."
Motherwell counterpart Mark McGhee lamented being without Stephen Craigan, Paul Quinn and Jim O'Brien through injury and admitted his side's failure to make the top six two weeks ago had left them with little to play for.
He said: "We had three players out and we had to adjust. We were on the back foot because of that.
"It was an end-of-season game for us and we struggled to get to grips with that.
"But it's up to me to motivate the players in the remaining weeks to ensure they are up for the matches left."
